Many of you have made my day by replying to my May 4 all-member email, for which I am very grateful. Some had questions, some respond to specific requests for feedback and involvement, and others wanted to express their feelings about the unwelcome cancellations and changes that are the result of the coronavirus pandemic and the public health safety measures that had to be instituted. No matter the reason for your response, I welcomed all of those replies.
As a result, we have some fresh volunteers to present for In-Reach member education events, which will resume online beginning June 5. We also have some folks who will share their personal astronomy journeys in the soon-to-be-revived “Meet Your Fellow Astronomer” column. Thank you to all who volunteered to put themselves out there, and to other folks who are helping us do a better job serving you. I love seeing people willing to help us come together more as a community of astronomers, and I encourage others to be brave and take a step in the same direction, even if it’s just joining one of our Zoom meetings for the first time.
Please know, this is not a one-time window for your emails and responses. As I said in the April President’s Corner message, I feel that communication is of utmost importance to this club. It’s never been more true than now, when we are beginning to see what might be the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel.
This situation has taught us the certainty of uncertainty. As the research continues to come in and new variants keep turning up, our scientific community endeavors to give us the best advice possible given what they know, when they know it. While I am hopeful that the vaccinations and ongoing safety measures brought us to a point where a little relaxation of the rules is permissible, the safety of our members has to remain our primary concern.
The trustees and volunteers of the DAS are actively communicating about how and when to restart certain activities. We believe that we are getting much closer, but our volunteers will have the final say about their comfort level in various conditions. The onset of nicer weather, combined with good news about the rarity of transmission outdoors, bodes well for some types of events and activities, but in-person meetings are probably several months away at a minimum. For as long as it takes, we will continue to do meetings online in order to keep bringing you speakers who are involved in the astronomy and space exploration communities.
Meanwhile, the cosmos continues to be a place of mystery and delight. Please check out the recent Astro Updates to learn about the latest discoveries and keep going out under the stars to explore and enjoy the night skies. Join us online for our general meetings and In-Reach events. Several folks post regularly on the Denver Astronomical Society Facebook page, and on Twitter and Instagram, so check on those from time to time. Stay engaged or get re-engaged. Stake your claim on how to keep improving and innovating your astronomy club.
Clear Skies,
Dena
